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Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

vidyesh

Comments (156)

  • giancarlostoro
    I never connect my smart TVs to the network, I just plug in my Apple TV and move on. It's frustrating because it takes longer to turn these devices on than it should because of all the additional overhead I don't want or need. I wish someone would make a painless gadget to flash the software with dumber software that loads instantly.
  • darknavi
    Isn't that actually great? Just never create and sign into a Walmart account and now your TV isn't infected.
  • Robdel12
    Is there any kind of “hook up” on wholesale large dumb displays?I know I’m preaching to the choir, but I just want a giant dumb display from my Apple TV. I vaguely remember someone posting a link to tvs restaurants use but I don’t remember exactly what or if it was what I’m looking for.(Sorry, being lazy here)
  • SoftTalker
    Just use an AppleTV, Roku, etc. and connect it to the HDMI port.TV is just a screen. That is how I've used mine for the last 5+ years.
  • nla
    This is why you never connected a "smart TV" to the internet. If you disagree, do it and then run a Wireshark analysis. The best option I have found, after trying them all is Apple TV. Least about of telemetry, best picture quality, and very secure.
  • shermantanktop
    2040: a $30k neural interface becomes available.2042: a $20 budget neural version hits the market but requires the user to watch a 15s ad every 5 minutes.
  • RiverCrochet
    A lot of people do their grocery shopping at Walmart (even if you don't). This positions Walmart as being able to offer discounts for food and other daily necessities to people right on their TV. People are going to like this-especially the cohort that would buy a cheap TV at Walmart. They're going to really like saving a few dollars on groceries or gas. Not to mention Walmart can now offer perks through the TV to its millions of employees. They're going to like it too.Walmart is one of the most litigated companies ever, and probably has 10+ active lawsuits against it at any given time. So if they're getting into this, they're fairly sure it will work legally now and in the future.The battle against personal-data-collection by default on TVs is probably lost at this point. It's over. Non-smart TVs will probably become specialized, super-expensive corporate-class expenses out of reach of most people before too long.Projectors are capable of creating a big image on a wall like a TV, and while it's not as bright, it comes with much less privacy invasion, and is also portable. That's where I'm likely spending my future TV dollars until those gets caught up in this as well.
  • shepherdjerred
    I wish rtings had a list of best TVs without smarts.I have a $1700 Samsung TV. It's quite nice, but I struggle with changing the HDMI input of all things.
  • bob1029
    My solution to this problem has been to stop using TVs.The last TV I actually enjoyed more than a PC/Mac display was a monster Panasonic plasma that had some serious practicality issues. I'd use it maybe 2-3 hours per week.None of the other display technologies are that interesting to me. OLED gets close sometimes, but nothing matches the visceral urgency of a plasma panel clocked at 600hz. The noises it would make in bright scenes was crazy. You had to have a powerful sound system to cover up the semiconductor switching. And, that's kind of the entire point for me with a television. Go big or go home. Exhibition. If I just want to consume content without pissing off the neighbors, my MacBook/PC tends to provide a much better experience.
  • JoeBOFH
    At my last job we bought a lot of Vizio tvs. We used them for conference rooms, hallway displays, etc. They were reasonably priced and had a good feature set needed.They have been on a decline for years and this is a nail in the coffin.
  • prepend
    This actually seems better than before when a vizio account was required. At least now its a walmart account. If forced to choose, Id prefer a walmart account.Of course, I would never buy this tv because of the requirement. I just buy dumb tvs and then stick an apple tv in front if the hdmi input.
  • SunshineTheCat
    Kinda a wild idea I had never really considered, but absolutely a possibility: using a TV as a loss leader to sell ads.Not sure if that's they're intent here, but I could easily see that becoming a thing (if it isn't already). And what better way to collect useful ad data on people than forcing them to create an account and then tracking their usage of the device.
  • everdrive
    At the moment, my strategy is only to own older TVs that have no smart features. Eventually this strategy won't work. When that happens I'll either use a computer monitor or forgo TV altogether.
  • beloch
    "A Walmart spokesperson confirmed to Ars Technica that Walmart accounts will be mandatory on “select new Vizio OS TVs” for owners to complete onboarding and to use smart TV features."------Some questions prospective buyers should ask:1. Is "onboarding" necessary for this "Smart TV" to function as a "dumb screen"? i.e. Would a user need to get a Walmart account just to access video settings?2. Does it inject ads or phone home to share screen captures from HDMI input?3. Is not giving it access to WiFi sufficient, or does this thing have alternative ways of getting "updates"?
  • limagnolia
    So, just like Google, Amazon, and Roku TV's? (And probably LG and Samsung too?)
  • greybeardgeek
    Recently I sourced two TVs for my elderly mom, who is never going to stream or use an app. I only looked at TVs which had their manuals online for review. I found two LGs which I could disable the app splash screen, and set to "select last input on power-up", which in her case is a cable box on HDMI-1. Don't know how long choices such as this will be available.
  • everdrive
    Is this a benefit in disguise? You refuse to create walmart account, and therefore your smart TV is rendered dumb and you can just use it like normal?
  • kr1m
    My Vizio TV stopped working when I put a pihole on our network
  • nazgulsenpai
    I have a Hisense Roku TV with on a network with a pihole. It can't reach any of it's ad networks so the interface is always the default. The default isn't great, mind you, but it is ad-free.
  • daft_pink
    Used to use Roku, but why anyone would use anything other than an AppleTV these days who knows.It’s obvious that the TV manufacturers have no motivation to provide updates and now they are moving to steal your data.
  • beastman82
    Buy an Nvidia shield and never look back
  • ge96
    Reminds me of the insta go 360 3s cam I bought recently, have to install a mobile app on your phone to activate it. At least you can uninstall the app after.The hardware is amazing, the software could improve in terms of how it deals with motion blur and surfaces like gravel.
  • PunchyHamster
    at this point the TVs should be sold in ad and non-ad supported versions
  • autoexec
    Any TV I buy that forces me to create an account will be returned as defective.
  • havaloc
    You sort of have to admire what a clever purchase Vizio was for Walmart.
  • 1970-01-01
    The best thing to do is just leave them as dumb TVs until a root exploit is available.
  • ethagnawl
    This is a friendly reminder that your local e-waste collection site likely has no shortage of sufficiently dumb TVs available for the taking. (Check local regulations before taking anything without permission.)
  • josefritzishere
    From a security perspective... never connect your TV directly to the network. But artificially creating a Walmart dependency is total garbage.
  • burnt-resistor
    TV smart features are almost always underpowered spyware, so no Wi-Fi for the TV to use it as a dumb display and BYOSTV.If one wanted arguably less/different spyware, there's the Fire TV Stick 4K Max* $35, Apple TV 4K* $149, or Nvidia Shield TV Pro** for $199.* Shows ads** Shows ads that can be disabled by stopping Google/Android services
  • latchkey
    I just got a LG G5 and I bought a $499 Mac Mini and a light up bluetooth keyboard with built in track pad. I never see the OS on my TV. Works fantastic.
  • -warren
    This is why I have protonmail aliases, a burner second phone, and an x1 virtual cc. While I can't stop the enshittification, I can fight back by remaining pseudo anonymous and compartmentalize each service.
  • ryandrake
    For now, we can vote with our wallets and avoid this crap. But, how long until the entire TV and display industry requires an account to tether you to each company in order to use their products?
  • kotaKat
  • jgerrish
    In every Smart TV thread there are dozens or hundreds of comments that say people don't put connect their TV to their wireless.I understand. I've been an EFF supporter for decades, at least when I can afford it. I get it.The problem though is that you sometimes want to screencast a video or song from your phone. Your dirty dirty phone that has been out in the wild collecting malware. Or a guest does. And sure, what's one video?And of course your TV doesn't have the latest updates.It's a fucking perverse incentive that will lead to more regulation of the Internet and IoT when we get malware "leaks" and outbreaks.The civil libertarians have been co-opted with game theory and smart knowledge of the tragedy of the commons in this case by the intelligence services.Instead of just educating citizens and democratic debate.I don't have the political power to sell that idea now, and I know it sounds crazy.Oh well. I wonder what I can't sell next.
  • Havoc
    Wishful thinking but I wish the EU would legislate this BS away.
  • inquirerGeneral
    [dead]
  • theturtle
    [dead]